Formentera Especial

About Formentera Especial

Formentera Especial is a four-star hotel in La Savina, the small port village at the north end of Formentera where the ferries from Ibiza Town come in. It suits travellers who want to step off the boat close to their base, and couples or families who prefer apartments and a quiet corner of the island to a large complex. The lagoon and the port are both within easy reach.

Formentera Especial is a hotel with apartments, rated four stars, at Avinguda Mediterrània 2. Guests choose it for the mix of a port address and self-catering space: kitchen and kitchenette facilities appear in the listed amenities, next to a restaurant. It works as a base for a first visit to Formentera, since the ferry terminal is 0.3 km away and the island's small capital is 3.1 km inland, and it keeps the arrival simple for anyone travelling with luggage or children.

Location: La Savina

La Savina is the arrival point for every ferry to Formentera, a compact port beside the Estany des Peix lagoon. Boat houses, a small waterfront and the low ground of the Ses Salines Natural Park sit around it. Formentera Especial has an address on Avinguda Mediterrània, 0.3 km from the terminal and 0.3 km from the village centre, so a late crossing ends with a short walk rather than a search for transport.

The shore of the Estany des Peix is 0.7 km from Formentera Especial and the salt lagoons where birds gather are 1.4 km away. Sant Francesc Xavier, with its fortified church and shops, is 3.1 km, and Es Pujols is 3.9 km. Bikes, scooters, buses and taxis cover those hops; a car helps only for La Mola and the far south. In August the port is busy around ferry times and calmer once the day boats leave.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms and apartments at Formentera Especial are listed with air conditioning, a balcony or terrace, a desk, a safe and a hairdryer, with a kitchen or kitchenette including a fridge and microwave in the apartment categories. That suits families who want breakfast at their own table and couples who eat out in the evening. Free Wifi and internet access, toiletries, an iron and board and non-smoking rooms also appear in the listed facilities.

Anyone arriving on a late ferry should confirm reception hours with Formentera Especial before travelling, because check-in and check-out times are set by the property. Ask which categories have a full kitchen rather than a kitchenette, whether the balcony looks towards the lagoon or the street, and what cleaning and laundry cover during a longer stay. A smoking area is listed for guests who need one.

Getting there

Ibiza Airport (IBZ) lies about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town, so the journey starts with a transfer to the town port; buses and taxis cover the run, with fewer services in winter. From Ibiza Town, ferries cross to La Savina in about 30-35 minutes on a fast service or about an hour on a conventional one. Sailings are frequent in season and thinner outside it, so check the operators before fixing dates.

La Savina port is 0.3 km from Formentera Especial, an easy walk with a wheeled case or a short taxi ride. For the island itself, bikes and the signposted green routes suit a flat, 19 km long island, with scooters, buses and taxis as alternatives. The Consell de Formentera caps visitor vehicles in high season, so check before bringing or hiring a car; Formentera Especial lists a car rental service for guests.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Calm water for a paddle is 0.7 km from Formentera Especial, on the Estany des Peix, and the salt lagoons at 1.4 km are the place to watch birds over the shallows. Sant Francesc Xavier, 3.1 km away, holds the fortified 18th-century church built as a refuge, the market and the island's shops. Es Pujols at 3.9 km is the liveliest village, with boat houses and evening bars.

The long beaches need a bike, bus or car: the Ses Illetes sand spit to the north for clear shallow water before the day boats arrive, Cala Saona for red cliffs and a west-facing sunset, and Platja de Migjorn along the south coast behind dunes and juniper. Food on Formentera is plain and good, with peix sec (dried fish), island salads and fresh fish, and lunches tend to be the unhurried meal.

A day from Formentera Especial

Begin with a swim or a canoe on the Estany des Peix, 0.7 km from Formentera Especial, before the morning warms up. Cycle or walk the 1.4 km to the salt lagoons to watch birds, then carry on 3.1 km to Sant Francesc Xavier for the fortified church, the market and a coffee. The whole morning stays within a few kilometres of the hotel, and bikes cover it easily.

After lunch, ride the 3.9 km to Es Pujols for the beach and a slow afternoon, or head north towards the Ses Illetes sand spit on a longer ride. Come back to La Savina, 0.3 km from Formentera Especial, as the ferries arrive, and eat near the port. Bikes handle the daylight hours, taxis are the fallback after dark, and buses serve the main routes, with fewer services outside the season.

Practical tips

Formentera Especial is best booked around the island's season. Much of Formentera's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm the hotel's opening dates before planning a winter stay; July and August bring the highest demand and the busiest port. A Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, is charged per person per night by the accommodation. Rates vary by category and season, children under 16 are exempt, and the Govern de les Illes Balears publishes the current rules.

Questions about Formentera Especial